Report from the Cayman Islands
 

"We have been talking to some hams on the islands who tell us that at one point
they had to take their radios and move to the attic because the water was
pouring in, that’s how desperate things had become," said Michael Pilgrim,
head of the Hurricane Watch Net.

"We have contacted a radio ham on Grand Cayman, who has passed a message to a
policeman, who is going to the governor to tell him that Richmond is there to
provide help. They are trying to get a radio to the governor so he can speak to
London."


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"The aftermath is catastrophic," said Mark Porter, 23, who was on holiday on
Grand Cayman with a friend, Peter Oakes, 24, when the 150mph hurricane swept
the Caribbean. Both are from Swansea.

"Pictures will never show the true horror and words cannot describe the storm,
the howling and screaming. Roofs are off, floods are everywhere, trees are
down. Many, if not all, buildings in the capital, George Town, suffered damage.
The road is littered with large rocks, roofs, wood, signs, sand, palm leaves
and coconuts. People are in awe of the damage."

Telephone lines were severed, mobile telephone masts toppled, power cut off and
radio stations forced off air. The Royal Navy frigate, HMS Richmond, was
offshore last night but was unable to make contact and said it could not lower
boats or launch helicopters to reach the main island of Grand Cayman because of
stormy conditions.